DA says Texas Cops who Killed Woman Holding BB gun were Justified

The two Austin cops who shot and killed 26-year-old Micah Jester were justified and will not face criminal, district attorney Moore announced Wednesday.

Lindeman, a so-called "mental health officer," and Smith were dispatched to the Club at Summer Valley Apartments before 4 a.m. on October 17, 2016 for a welfare call about a domestic dispute possibly involving a weapon, according to KXAN.

A male explained to 911 dispatchers he needed medical attention for his wife.

The caller, Jester's husband, went back and forth about whether or not his wife had a weapon, according to DA Moore.

It was still unclear if Jester was armed by the time officers arrived, investigators claim.

As Lindeman and Smith approached the apartment, the DA claims Jester came out of a breezeway leading to the apartment while pointing what appeared to be a handgun at them.

"Shoot me! Shoot me! Kill me!," Jester told the officers, according to APD Assistant Chief Troy Gay, who gave a press briefing after the shooting.

Lindeman and Smith took cover, firing their weapon, striking Jester.

The two officers observed the woman fell, but was still moving moving on the sidewalk, lunging towards the gun-a BB gun like the model seen below.

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Moore claims backup had arrived by this point, and officers were giving Jester commands to stop moving towards the gun.

Officer Lindeman claims Jester touched the gun, which prompted her to fire a second series of shots, striking Jester.

After the second series of shots, the officers say they observed Jester was no longer moving.

Jester was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Lindeman and Smith worked for the Austin Police Department for about three years at the time of the shooting.

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today_is_the_day

May 5

Travis County DA Margaret Moore, if Austin PD does not release its body cam videos from this shooting, you should release your copies of the body cam videos that you used to determine the cops will face no consequences for shooting and killing a person.

today_is_the_day

May 5

Austin PD, it is time to release the body cam videos from this shooting.